Part 8 (1/2)

You wouldn't have enjoyed it, daddy dear; I know you too well. Next time--and I hope it will be soon--you must telephone me. We have a 'phone in our apartment now, and I'm sure I don't know how we ever lived without it. You see I have so many engagements that even if I didn't happen to be entertaining, I might not be at home, which would be just as bad.”

The rest of the sheet was filled with a gay description of the automobile show, which was ”really quite a function this year,” and of her success as a hostess. ”Evelyn says I've made immense progress, and she's quite proud of me.”

There was a short silence as Mrs. North folded the letter and slipped it into its envelope.

”But I don't understand why you didn't go back and take dinner with them, as Bessie asked you to do,” she said at last, in a reproachful tone. ”You ought to have made an effort, Richard.”

The doctor's grizzled brows lifted humorously as he glanced across the breakfast table at his wife's worried face. ”Ought to have made an effort--eh?” he repeated. ”Well, didn't I? I wanted to see Bess the worst way, but it seems she didn't want to see me--at least not at the time I arrived. So I went my way, got my lunch, met Grayson at the hospital at two-thirty, finished the operation at four, ran over to Avery's and left an order, then----”

”But why----”

”I could have gone back to Bess then, and I wanted to; but she didn't invite me to come till six, and I knew I must make that six-twenty train, for I'd promised Mrs. Baxter I'd call in the evening. So you see, my dear, I was up against it, as the boys say.”

”Did she look well, Richard?” asked his wife anxiously.

”Perfectly well, I should say.”

”And did she tell you when we might expect her at home for a little visit?”

The doctor shook his head. ”I didn't have a chance to ask any questions, my dear.” He arose and pushed back his chair. ”Well, I must be going.

When you write to Bess tell her it's all right, and she's not to worry.

I'll take care to let her know next time I'm coming.” He went out and closed the door heavily behind him.

Grandma Carroll, who had listened to the conversation without comment, pursed up her small, wise mouth. ”That reminds me, daughter, I think I shall go to Boston to-day,” she observed briskly.

”To Boston--to-day?” echoed her daughter in surprise. ”I don't believe I can possibly get away to go with you, mother. Malvina Bennett is coming to fix my black skirt; besides, there's the baking and----”

”You needn't to feel that you must put yourself out on my account, Lizzie,” Mrs. Carroll replied with a slightly offended air. ”I am quite capable of going to China if it was necessary. I hadn't thought to mention it to you yesterday, but there's some shopping I want to do, so I'll get right off on the morning train.”

”Will you have time to get around to see Bessie?”

”I'll make time,” said grandma trenchantly. ”I want to see what she's doing with my own eyes. I don't know what _you_ think about her not asking her father in to her table, but I know what _I_ think.”

”Oh, mother, I hope you won't----”

”You needn't to worry a mite about what I'll say or do, I shan't be hasty; but I mistrust that Sipp woman is leading Lizzie into extravagance and foolishness, and I mean to find out. I shall probably stay all night, and maybe all day to-morrow.”

”But it might not be convenient for Bessie,” hesitated Mrs. North, ”you know what she said about telephoning; I guess I'd better let her know you're coming.”

”Hump!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed grandma, ”it wasn't always convenient for me to be up nights with her when she had whooping-cough and measles, but I did it just the same. I don't want you should telephone, daughter. I don't know just when I shall get around to Lizzie's house; when I do, I'll stay till I get ready to come home, you can depend upon that, if all the folks in Boston are there a-visiting. I'll go right in and visit with them. I'm going to take my best silk dress and my point lace collar, so I guess I'll be full as dressy as any of 'em.”

Mrs. North sighed apprehensively, but in the end she saw Mrs. Carroll onto the train with a wondering sense of relief. ”Mother always did know how to manage Bessie better than I did,” she told herself vaguely.

When Mrs. Carroll arrived at her destination the whistles were proclaiming the hour of noon. ”I'm just in time for dinner, I guess,”

she observed cheerfully to the elevator boy, who grinned his appreciation. But there was no token of occupancy about the Brewster apartment when Mrs. Carroll rapped smartly upon the door.

”The missis is out,” volunteered the boy, who had lingered to watch the progress of the pink-cheeked, smiling old lady; ”but the girl's there. I seen her go in not fifteen minutes ago.”

Thus encouraged Mrs. Carroll repeated her summons. After what seemed a second interminable silence the door opened, disclosing an alert presence in an immaculate cap and ap.r.o.n.

”How do you do?” said grandma pleasantly. ”This boy here says Mrs.